Sister Virginia Cunniff, DW, 95, Sr. Virginia of the Cross, 8/4/25-1/12/21, 74 Years Professed
Friends of Wisdom we are saddened to report the passing of Sr. Virginia Cunniff, DW, 95. Sister passed peacefully into eternal life on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 in the presence of loving staff and Sisters of Our Lady Perpetual Help Convent, Sound Beach, NY.
Born to John J. and Emma Jaccarina Cunniff on August 4, 1925, Sister was 95 years old and would have celebrated her 75th Jubilee in August. Sister is survived by numerous nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. Burial will be held on January 19, 2021. As the COVID-19 pandemic is on the rise in Suffolk County, NY, this will be a private service. A memorial mass will be scheduled at later date.
Remembering Sr. Virginia Cunniff, DW
Sr. Virginia loved being from a large family of nine and liked being the youngest of four sisters and four brothers. As she expressed, she had many role models to follow.
In 1931, when she turned six years old, she was ecstatic that she would join her three older sisters at Holy Innocents School in Brooklyn, NY, that September. However, things changed drastically and unexpectedly when she contracted polio and was sent for convalescent care at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY. That first year, out of eight in total, was spent in bed.
St. Charles Hospital, at the time, a premier facility for the treatment of those with polio was where she met the Daughters of Wisdom. As administrators and staff of the hospital, they not only ministered to her medical care but provided her education.
At seven, Virginia began her elementary education at the Hospital. She especially loved the Religion classes. The Sisters instilled in the students a personal love for a caring God. The students learned to accept themselves and to reach out to others in life-giving ways. In 1940, when she graduated from St. Charles, she applied and was enrolled in Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in Ozone Park, NY, another school run by the Daughters of Wisdom. There she boarded for four years. After graduation from High School, she took the 5-Cents trolley to Manhattan to work at Manufacturers Trust Bank.
But the call of Wisdom was never far from Sr. Virginia and becoming a Daughter of Wisdom became a future dream for her. After six months of work at the bank, Sr. Virginia boarded another train from Grand Central Station, NY, to Montreal, Canada. Later she would transfer her train to continue her journey to Ottawa, Canada, where she would enter as a postulant in the Novitiate of the Daughters of Wisdom.
In 1946, at the age of twenty-one, two days after her Profession on August 2, Sr. Virginia was missioned to her alma mater, Our Lady of Wisdom Academy, as the school secretary. She served there for the next twenty-one years. To this day, former students remember her dearly as the one who transformed the halls of Wisdom Academy by her welcoming presence. She knew every student by name and was known as a "Jill of all trades," who responded to every need. She was even adored in the after-school detention hall. In later years, Sister would go on to attend monthly OLWA reunions with the class of 1955.
Other ministries as a secretary included St. Mary's in Norfolk, Virginia, St. Philip Neri CCD Office in Northport, NY, St. Dominic's High School in Oyster Bay, NY, Maryhaven Center of Hope in Port Jefferson, NY, and St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY. She was a delightful presence for ten years at the Islip, NY Provincial Office's main desk as a secretary. After her retirement in 1997, she volunteered every Tuesday as a receptionist where lunch for the day was scheduled with a run to McDonald’s by Sr. Pat Curreri. On Wednesdays, she volunteered at St. Charles Hospital in the Pastoral Care Department. In addition, she made weekly visits to the retired Sisters in Sound Beach, NY. When asked what retirement meant, Sr. Virginia said, she did not know.
Sr. Virginia studied Theology at Trinity College in Washington, DC. A proclaimed seeker, she was inspired by the Scripture quote: "Wisdom is radiant and unfading. She is readily seen by those who seek her and appears to them on the way and greets them with compassion." (Wisdom 6:12-23)
Aware that Wisdom journeyed with her as a companion and a powerful presence, she desired to mirror that in her life to others; and she did, with ease.
Relationality was one of Sr. Virginia's greatest gifts. Connecting with the many people she met over the years was a meaningful and significant part of her life. She described her social network in the following words: "I come from a large family I love. I worked in many places; thus, I have friends all over the universe."
So precious to Sr. Virginia, her excitement was contagious and could light up a room when her family visited. Five years ago, her 90th Birthday Party was held at the Provincial House to accommodate over 100 guests of Sisters, family, and friends.
Sr. Virginia will forever be remembered for her loving heart, quick wit, love for her Sisters, family and friends, and McDonald's Tuesdays.
Donations in Sr. Virginia’s memory can be made to https://secure.etransfer.com/EFT/BlockCode/donation1.cfm?d2org=DaughtersofWisdom&d2tool=donate